COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) announced Wednesday the Preseason Coaches' Poll, and Preseason All-Conference Team ahead of the 2026 baseball season, with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Mountain Lions picked fourth in the conference. Senior starting pitcher
Ryder Mancuso is also recognized as a member of the Preseason All-RMAC team, after leading the team in punch outs a season ago.
The preseason coaches poll is voted on by the league's nine head coaches with the coaches prohibited from voting for their own teams.
The Mountain Lions, who enter the 2026 season with a revamped lineup, open the season expected to finish fourth in the RMAC conference season, setting them up to qualify for the postseason tournament for the second straight season. Perennial favorite Colorado Mesa leads the poll sweeping all available first place votes (8) after winning the last dozen RMAC regular seasons, with CSU Pueblo and MSU Denver tying for second place, each sitting at 53 points. UCCS earned 41 points which included three votes for a third-place finish. Regis (32), and Colorado School of Mines (31) round out the tournament places, with Adams State (23), New Mexico Highlands (14), and Colorado Christian (13) all expected to miss postseason action.
Senior right hander
Ryder Mancuso represents the Mountain Lions on the Preseason All-RMAC team, after having a stellar season last spring on the mound. Mancuso set a career best in wins (5), strikeouts (59), ERA (7.14), and appearances (14). A reliable starter, Mancuso looks to lead the Mountain Lions rotation to another successful RMAC campaign.
The Mountain Lions begin their season on February 6
th at home against Minnesota-Crookston, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. (MT). For full schedule information and gameday links check gomountainlions.com.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
